a girl with a creative appetite

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sri lanka

The birds woke me up this morning, rather than my alarm. Earlier than I had hoped but I had slept fairly well and decided to get up for breakfast. If only waking up for work was that easy.

I had an amazing breakfast, the hotel is more catered for Europeans, and given the size of the hotel the buffet was extensive. I had some delicious fresh passion fruit, pineapple and pancakes. Then had a roti with an omelette. I sadly can’t stomach curry this early in the morning. It’s not quite the same as having left over take away. The eggs here are so fresh and I wanted to make sure I filled up so I didn’t need lunch.

I wasn’t going to head to the shops this morning, which was organised by our guide – however he mentioned we would visit a batik factory and I knew I couldn’t pass up the photo opportunity. It was extremely interesting seeing the process and how talented these ladies are. I remember doing it at school and finding it quite difficult. I decided to buy 2 silk scarfs, spending a small fortune but I really haven’t spent overly much this holiday, so thought why not?! This experience was on my list of the top things I have done on my trip along with the elephant safari!

I then came back to the hotel and chilled by the amazing pool. I took a dip in the pool – the water was so warm and refreshing! I read a bit and sorted out my batik photos. I am meeting my group in a bit for the final time before having dinner together. I am starving! So can’t wait to eat lots and lots of delicious food.

I may head down to the beach tomorrow evening to see the sunset as I think I may have missed it today. The beach looks okay but isn’t overly beautiful.

Yesterday we left the hotel and headed on a very, very bumpy road to Wilpattu National Park. Here we went on a safari. For me this wasn’t a patch on the previous elephant safari. However we did see some deer, lots of birds, monkeys, land monitors and a crocodile. We also saw a sloth bear and did spot a leopard which the park is known for. However I didn’t really ‘see’ it, only something that moved as it was very far away. Some people got good pictures however I didn’t as my lens wasn’t powerful enough. We then headed back to the hotel.

This morning we headed to some more temples. Three complexes full of stupas, buddhas, baths and temples. As much as they are beautiful I am now dreaming of relaxing on the beach. I did enjoy a king coconut, which I was unsure of but it was quite refreshing!
We stopped for lunch and had a nice buffet, I needed to eat as I was feeling rough from the heat. In one of the stupas we had to take our shoes off (obviously) but the ground was so hot, walking on it gave me goosebumps. I felt a little sick after this but nothing some water, food and an ice cold glass of Diet Coke didn’t fix.

We then headed to our final destination. A three – four hour bus journey to Marawilla, staying at a hotel called Club Palm Bay. I have emailed someone about a taxi to the airport on Saturday so hopefully he will give a good price. He came recommended from Carmen, a girl on my trip. My guide is also trying to organise something for me.

We arrived at our hotel and it is beautiful. I am going to enjoy my time here. I will relax by the pool for the next few days and take a walk down the beach. Just waiting for my case to arrive to me room before going for dinner!

I felt very refreshed this morning after a great nights sleep, making the early wake up much easier. After a shower and some breakfast – a little fruit, yoghurt and a fresh omelette and doing my signature move of slipping over in the marble bathroom (take note Maria, mosquito spray makes floors slippery) we headed off on our bus. We had a tour of Colombo, stopping off at the Independence Memorial Hall and continuing on a very long journey to Nuwara Eliya.
After about four hours driving we stopped for lunch at a restaurant over looking the Kelani river, I opted for an omelette (again) it was fresh and delicious.

We continued our journey which lasted about another three hours. Stopping on the way to look at some tea picking ladies. This work is extremely skilled, and they have a target of picking about 30kg of tea leaves per day which takes around four hours, paying only 1000lkr. This is around £5 which makes me feel incredibly guilty that I would spend that on lunch without thinking about it.

On route, we also stopped at a couple of waterfalls with breathtaking views. The weather at this time was very cloudy, it looked as if the rain was catching up with us but nevertheless it was still beautiful.
We finally arrived at our hotel, called ‘Grand Hotel’ at around 5.15pm – a very long day but we’re greeted with a hot towel and delicious cup of tea. After freshening up, we are going for dinner and then I shortly after I will head to my room to get an early night. Another early start for us tomorrow. We are leaving the hotel at 5.15am, travelling to Horton Plains National Park for a 9km hike/walk. We will have a picnic breakfast whilst we are there. We will then enjoy a city tour on a tuk tuk as well as high tea in the Grand Hotel.
Having a really good time,
A girl with an appetite for all things creative,
Maria x

I know conventionally a food blog is all about posting recipes however I’m going to use it as a space to write about my trip to Sri Lanka… after all it is my blog!
After a ridiculously long journey, leaving my home at 5.15pm Saturday and not arriving to my hotel until about 9pm I was relieved to finally be in Sri Lanka. I have never done a long haul flight before and as an anxious person I was worrying about every single little thing…where do I check in my luggage, will it get there, will I make it to the gate on time, how will I know where to go when transferring flights?!?!
Classic me though left a little too early and had tons of time, no queues when checking in my luggage meant I could have a little browse at the airport and then I went on to my gate. Transferring flights was a breeze as I knew deep down it would be. My first flight was a little uncomfortable – maybe due to nerves as well as the seat. I watched a couple of films in hope that I would get a bit more sleep on the next flight. Thankfully I did. After stopping in the Maldives for an hour and a half (which looked beautiful from the plane seat) we went onward to Colombo.
I nervously waited for my luggage exchanging glares of desperation with a couple of ladies from Manchester. Eventually, after about an hour it came along on the belt, and I heaved a sigh of relief! Theirs came along at the same time so we plodded off happily! I was so tired I felt my legs were going to collapse underneath the weight of my rucksack. I exchanged some money and found my airport transfer, smiling widely when I found my name written on a sign. It was about an hour to my hotel (although it only seemed about 30-40 minutes) but I arrived and boy was I pleased to hear that I’d been upgraded to the executive suite. I came to my amazing room and had a lovely nights sleep.

Day 1 of tour: 13th February

I woke up, got ready and had breakfast. I wasn’t feeling too hungry – partly due to nerves, I always seem to loose my appetite after flying. I was also feeling anxious about the fact I had a whole day to myself before meeting my tour group this evening. Little me in a country I know very little about. I decided to go out and have a little explore though. As lovely as the hotel is, I didn’t want to stay in all day.

I’m glad I did, as I was approached by a Sri Lankan man, he chatted to me as I walked down the street, trying to give him little information and before I knew it I was getting into a tuk tuk with him. Going against everything that I was told as a child and scared shitless that I had no idea where I was, and no idea where he was taking me. I clocked a bottle of rum that belonged to the driver. This was full. He took me to a temple as it was their public holiday for their full moon festival. I got to see a real life couple getting married, we then went to another place of meditation, it was beautiful. Back in the tuk tuk and the bottle of rum was now two thirds full and I’m a little edgy. He then took me to a gem stone shop where I got roped into buying myself my birthstone. Typical of an English person feeling like they can’t say no. I did stand my ground and made sure I didn’t spend too much. The tuk tuk driver then took me back to my hotel. The ‘guide’ was lovely though, they really are very friendly here.

I then just took it easy and sat by the pool, with a book. Chatted to a lady who was on her own, she commented on my nail varnish and found out she too was on my tour. I met the rest of the group this evening and everyone seems lovely. From Canada, Chicago, Switzerland and England.

We all went out to dinner with our guide and eat outside as a group in this place called the Dutch Hospital. (Not a hospital any more, it used to be in the 1700s) I had a vegetable curry and it was absolutely delicious. The perfect amount of spice, really tasty and the fluffiest rice. I am now off to sleep as we are leaving the hotel at 7.30am for a tour of Colombo and a long bus journey to Nuwara Eliya.